locker



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

No. 550,279. Patented Nov. 26, 1895.

(No Model.)

HU -ll 4 WITNESSES: INVENTURS A mmr AN DREW EGNAHANLPNUTOiflHQWASHINGTUND C.

(No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. LOCKER & W. .0. GLEASON. FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

UNITED STATES ATENT FFICE.

ALFRED LOCKER, OF \VOODSIDE, AND WARREN C. GLEASON, OF BROOKLYN,ASSIGNORS TO THE GLEASON & BAILEY MANUFACTURING COMPANY,

OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

FIRE-EXTINGUISHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 550,279, dated November26, 1895.

Application filed February 16, 1895. Serial No. 588,608. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, ALFRED LOCKER, residing at IVoodside, Queenscounty, and VAR- REN C. GLEASON, residing at Brooklyn, Kings county, NewYork, citizens of the United States, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Fire-Extinguishers, of which the following is aspecification.

Our invention relates to that class of fireextinguishers in which theextinguishing fluid is expelled from a reservoir by the expansive forceof compressed air, and is directed particularly to the construction ofthe bottom of the reservoir and the arrangement of the airpump upon theexterior of the reservoir, and to certain details hereinafter more fullydescribed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of our improvedfire-extinguisher. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the same. Fig. 3is a detail view of the bottom, partly in section, taken on the line a:00 of Fig. 2. Fig. at is a vertical sectional view of the air-pum p,outletcock, and connections; and Fig. 5 is a view of the lower seat ofthe upper valve of the air-pump. Figs. 6 and '7 are details of thevalves of the air-pump.

Similar letters of reference designate similar parts in all thedrawings.

A is the reservoir, which is formed of a single piece of drawn metal andis provided with the bottom B, which is of cast metal in a single pieceand has two ribs C and D integral therewith and at right angles to eachother upon its upper side. These ribs serve to give strength to thebottom, beside which the rib C has a channel E running through it, whichforms the conduit for the ingress of the air and the egress of theextinguishing fluid. The outer end of this channel is threaded toreceive the sleeve F, which is screwed firmly therein and projectsthrough the shell of the reservoir and supports the exterior connection.

G is an opening through the bottom through which the extinguishing fluidis poured in. It is threaded to receive a plug H and has an extension orrim g rising somewhat above the floor of the bottom to give strength andadditional holding room for the plug. Channels h h h are cut throughthis rim to the level of the bottom to provide for the complete emptyingof the reservoir when desired, as thereby all the liquid will be allowedto flow off. The lower edge of the bottom is provided with a bead I,against the upper edge of which the shell of the reservoir rests, asshown.

The nozzle J is firmly secured to the sleeve F, and its opening formsthe outer continuation of the discharge-channel. It is controlled by thecock K, operated by the lever 7t, and when open a continuous straightchannel is formed. This avoids all unnecessary friction upon theescaping fluid and also renders it easy to dislodge any accumulation ofsediment that may form in the channel or about its inner month by ,meansof a wire inserted through it.

The air-channel Z opens into the main channel behind the cock K and iscontrolled by the cock L. The nozzle m of the air-pump M is screwed intothe socket above this cock, its upper end being held in place by thecollar a, attached to the band N, surrounding the reservoir. A set-screw0 prevents the unscrewing of the pump, except when desired.

The pump is provided with the hollow piston-rod Q and piston-head q, inwhich is the puppet-valve P, its lower seat 19 being provided withopenings p p and p whereby upon the upward stroke of the piston thevalve P rests over the'hole p and the air is allowed to descend throughthe holes 1') 19, while upon its downward stroke the upward pressurethrough the opening 19 raises the valve P to its upper seat, preventingthe egress of the air.

The lower puppet-valve R operates to permit the downward passage of theair; but so long as the cock L is open it will be thrown back to itsupper seat by the pressure from within the reservoir as soon as thedownward force of the piston is relaxed. Thus it will be seen that theair-pump is always ready for instant use, either to apply the pressurewhen the reservoir is being filled or to increase the pressure, if thatis required; but the cock L may be used to close the channel Z, if it isdesired to relieve the air-pump from the backpressure, or if for thepurposes of repair or otherwise the air-pump is to be removed.

IOO

In charging the reservoir it is turned bot;- tom up, the plug H isremoved, the cock K closed, and the liquid is poured into the cupl'ikebottom,when it will flow through the hole Gwithout the necessity ofusing a funnel, as is the case where the opening is through a projectingtube or sleeve. The plug H is then screwed on and the extinguisherturned into an upright position. The air-pump is then operated, forcingthe compressed air through the channel E, when it will rise to the topof the reservoir, and this is continued until the desired pressure isobtained. In discharging, the cock K is opened by the lever 7t, allowingthe fluid to escape.

By this construction we obtain an extinguisher wherein theoutlet-channel is formed on the upper side of the bottom, beingprotected from danger of injury from outside causes when in use, and itsribs, being integral with the bottom serve to give additional strengththereto. It is important that the inner opening of the diseharge-channelshould extend nearly to the side of the reservoir opposite to thenozzle, for in use the extinguisher is usually held with the nozzlesligl'itly elevated, causing the liquid to flow to the opposite side ofthe reservoir, and in ourconstruction,where the outlet channel opensupon the level of the bottom, practically all the fluid will be expelledbefore the compressed air can reach the opening. The plug H is also solocated as not to interfere with the straight path of thedischarge-channel, and bearing, as it does when in place, firmly againstthe bottom is not liable to disarran gem cut or injury from any ordinaryoutside causes.

By the arrangement of the air-pump and its connections we are enabled tolocate the pump on the exterior of the extinguisher, where it is at alltimes ready for use and where it can be immediately reached and readilyremoved for repairs.

It is of the utmost importance that the valves and cocks ofextinguishers of this class shall be so constructed as to be and remainairtight. The wear upon the valves of the airpump is heavy, as under theheavy pressure of the compressed air the valves are thrown up and downin their seats with very considerable force. lleretofore such valveshave been with plain upper shoulders, and annular washers have beenslipped down upon them to form the packing. Under the force of theimpact of the valve with its seat this packing, being unsupported at itsouter edges, expands and becomes spread beyond the shoulder of thevalve, obstructing its free operation and tending to malee it workimperfectly. lVe avoid these difliculties by constructing the valve withan annular groove it in its upper shoulder, in which is inserted thewasher r. The exterior rim of this groove prevents the lateral expansionof the washer, preserving its proper form and causing it 10 perform itsfunctions the more perfectly the harder the usage to which it issubjected.

The flange of the plug ll is also provided with a similar groove andwasher, and this construction can be applied at all points where thepacking is liable to disarrangemeut by reason of frequent or occasionalmovement of the parts.

In forming the stop for the main cock it has been customary to cut awaythe main body of the casting to allow of the sweep of the stoppin on theplug. This reduces the bearing and in creases the tendency to leak. Toavoid this reduction of the bearing-seat, we form a lug 0' upon the bodyof the cock by inserting a pin therein during the process of casting,which lug projects out so as to engage the pin 3 in the shank of thecook The lug r and pin 5- engage when the cock is fully open, so as toproduce a free discharge-channel for the fluid.

llavin g thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

The combination with the shell and bottom of a fire extinguisher of theclass named, of a discharge nozzle provided with a main dischargechannel, a main cock controlling such channel, an air channel openinginto such main channel behind such. main cook, a cock to control suchair channel, an air pump connected with said air channel provided with alower puppet valve to resist the return pressure of the compressed air,a piston head, provided with a puppet valve therein, a hollow perforatedpiston rod, and a wire band surrounding said reservoir shell, andcarrying a ring, with set screw thereon, to support the upper end ofsuch air pump substantially as shown and described.

ALFRED LOCKER. \VARREN C. GLEASON. Witnesses:

John A. :MCKAY, HERBERT J. HINDES.

